Devers Deals Gem as Cubs Top ‘Bandits 5-2
South Bend, IN - Heading into the season finale between the South Bend Cubs and Quad Cities River Bandits on Sunday afternoon at Four Winds Field, the Cubs have already won the six-game series with their latest victory Saturday night over the Bandits. South Bend came out on top 5-2,
South Bend, IN - Heading into the season finale between the South Bend Cubs and Quad Cities River Bandits on Sunday afternoon at Four Winds Field, the Cubs have already won the six-game series with their latest victory Saturday night over the Bandits. South Bend came out on top 5-2, thanks to a majestic outing from Luis Devers.
In front of a crowd of 6,782 in Downtown South Bend, the Cubs picked up right where they left off from earlier this series and piled runs on the board early. Devers hung a quick zero in the top of the 1st, and then they went to work against Quad Cities starter Steven Zobac.
The former 4th-round pick of the Kansas City Royals walked the first man he faced in Ezequiel Pagan, and then surrendered consecutive singles to James Triantos and Kevin Alcántara. The Alcántara hit produced a run, and Felix Stevens came up and climbed his own single top make it 2-0.
That ended up being plenty of run support for Devers. The right-hander had his mix of pitches working tremendously; Especially the change-up. Last time out at Fort Wayne, Devers struck out seven TinCaps, and worked five strong innings.
Tonight, it was much of the same as Devers did not allow a hit until the 4th inning. He finished with six strikeouts, and fired five innings of one-run baseball. That put him in line for the win.
Needing some insurance, the Cubs pieced together a crucial bottom of the 5th inning. It started with Triantos’ second hit of the game, as he had already stretched his hit streak to five-straight. A wild pitch pushed Triantos to third base after a groundout advanced him to second base prior. Moises Ballesteros then pushed him in on an infield single.
Later, Christian Franklin also slapped a single, and Ballesteros and Franklin would make it to second and third. Ballesteros was plated on a wild pitch. Then as he sprinted up and down the third base line, Franklin forced Quad Cities righty Ben Sears to balk.
The three runs gave South Bend five total on day. Out of the bullpen, Jarod Wright made his return from the Injured List and worked a scoreless 6th inning. Max Bain picked up where they left out and added two shutout frames. And in the 9th, Joe Nahas worked around one run scored and recorded the final three outs to cap off the victory.
Additionally, with a double in the game, Luis Verdugo stretched his on-base streak to 20-straight games. Plus, Kevin Alcantara’s on-base streak stands at 15 in a row with another solid night Saturday.
With the win, South Bend has the series win in their back pockets, and now head into the final day of the 2023 season on Sunday afternoon. Michael Arias is scheduled to pitch for the Cubs, and first pitch is set for 2:05 PM.